College Football Coach. The younger brother of College Hall of Fame player and coach Chalmers "Bump" Elliott, Pete attended Bloomington High School in Illinois and later enrolled at the University of Michigan. While with the Wolverines, he distinguished himself on the gridiron as well as on the hardwood, in addition to golf and totaled twelve letters. In basketball, he earned All-Big Ten honors in 1948 and while with Michigan's football squad, he played at the quarterback and defensive halfback positions receiving All-American recognition. He was a contributor to the Wolverines run during 1947 which culminated with a win in the Rose Bowl against Southern California on January 1st, 1948. Two of his years at Michigan (1947 and 1948), he was a teammate of his brother "Bump". After graduation, Pete launched his coaching career as an assistant at Oklahoma and in 1956 at the age of 30, he became head coach at Nebraska. After one year there, he moved onto California (1957 to 1959) and guided the Golden Bears to a Rose Bowl appearance in 1958. From 1960 to 1966, he served as head coach at the University of Illinois and led his team to the Rose Bowl title in 1963. During his tenure with the Fighting Illini, he mentored Dick Butkus who went onto have a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears. After two years as head coach at Miami-Florida (1973 to 1974), he retired and became a businessman while serving as a sports commentator. From 1979 until 1996, Elliott served as Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
College Football Coach. The younger brother of College Hall of Fame player and coach Chalmers "Bump" Elliott, Pete attended Bloomington High School in Illinois and later enrolled at the University of Michigan. While with the Wolverines, he distinguished himself on the gridiron as well as on the hardwood, in addition to golf and totaled twelve letters. In basketball, he earned All-Big Ten honors in 1948 and while with Michigan's football squad, he played at the quarterback and defensive halfback positions receiving All-American recognition. He was a contributor to the Wolverines run during 1947 which culminated with a win in the Rose Bowl against Southern California on January 1st, 1948. Two of his years at Michigan (1947 and 1948), he was a teammate of his brother "Bump". After graduation, Pete launched his coaching career as an assistant at Oklahoma and in 1956 at the age of 30, he became head coach at Nebraska. After one year there, he moved onto California (1957 to 1959) and guided the Golden Bears to a Rose Bowl appearance in 1958. From 1960 to 1966, he served as head coach at the University of Illinois and led his team to the Rose Bowl title in 1963. During his tenure with the Fighting Illini, he mentored Dick Butkus who went onto have a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears. After two years as head coach at Miami-Florida (1973 to 1974), he retired and became a businessman while serving as a sports commentator. From 1979 until 1996, Elliott served as Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Bio by: C.S.
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